Roman Gofman, director of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, has removed himself from involvement in an ongoing scandal involving alleged Qatari payments to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's advisers, citing potential conflicts of interest. Channel 12 News reported Thursday evening that Gofman's decision stems from his personal acquaintance with Netanyahu and Yonatan Urich, one of the figures implicated in the affair.
The State Attorney's Office had been awaiting a security assessment from the Mossad to determine whether the case poses risks to national security. That evaluation was delayed following Gofman's appointment to lead the intelligence service. The Mossad has now assigned a professional staff member to sign off on the assessment and handle matters related to the investigation.
The scandal centers on suspicions of illicit ties and financial transfers from the Qatari government to advisers in the Prime Minister's Office during wartime. The affair began with revelations that Eli Feldstein, who served as a security affairs spokesman in Netanyahu's office, simultaneously worked to improve Qatar's image in negotiations over the return of hostages held in Gaza.
Israel's Shin Bet security service and police launched a criminal investigation that uncovered evidence of a suspected indirect money trail: funds allegedly transferred from Qatar through American lobbyist Jay Footlik and a holding company owned by Israeli businessman Gil Berger, which reportedly financed Feldstein's salary.
Investigators are also examining suspicions that hundreds of thousands of dollars were channeled through companies linked to Yonatan Urich, Netanyahu's communications adviser.
